Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose On Mutt Pond

LMB are prolific spawners and since they protect the YOY 'fingerling" bass until they are about 1" a high percentage of them survive. A small pond with 50-250 1" bass quickly become a significant predator force eating everything that fits in their mouth. Once those small bass get chased they become pretty skittish. Crayfish and minnows are generally easier to catch for larger LMB than fingerling bass. Larger bass do eat some small bass especially when other items are scarce. Try using FHM or larger creek minnows 2ft-5ft under a slender bobber to catch your bass. Your bass in IL area will probably be spawning in 2-3 wks - get busy collecting bait and then fishing. Beginning LMB nest building starts at 59-60F and spawn is around 62F; so monitor your water temps for timing. Female bass should be hungry now developing eggs so you should be able to catch them if you are a decent angler. Remember those larger add stock bass have been caught previously so finesse fishing would be wise.

Count on each bass to eat 300 upto 500 small fish per year so all those items are removed from the system. Generally they eat the most vulnerable stuff first. Often tadpoles are not eaten until most other good stuff is abscent.

Those small CC of 6"-8" wont be eating many fish-crayfish until the CC are larger 15"-18".